"Donate a battleship?" Director Birkenhagen was stunned.
That was a battleship! The cost of building one ran into tens of millions of marks. Even a prince of the imperial family could receive fixed dividends from the royal family's assets and profits. But that was still nowhere near enough to support the construction of a battleship.
"Your Highness, are you joking?" Director Birkenhagen's expression was grave. Rigid by nature, he believed that Oscar was simply indulging in wild fantasies, writing a bad check to achieve his own ends. In the eyes of Germans, this was undoubtedly a very serious problem—especially given that Oscar was a prince of the imperial family.
"Your Excellency, I am absolutely not joking. I know that with my current financial resources, it is utterly impossible for me to build a battleship. But I will spend these four years earning enough money. I swear in God's name that I am perfectly clear-headed and completely serious. I am not making empty boasts." Oscar wore a solemn expression.
Director Birkenhagen fell silent. He did not know where Oscar's confidence came from. Based on his decades of life experience, he knew that it would be extraordinarily difficult for Oscar to accomplish all this. Yet Oscar's confidence made him feel as though a miracle might truly happen.
"Your Excellency, compared to a battleship, whether I study at the Naval Academy is not important, is it? If I can fulfill my promise and give the German Navy one more battleship, it would undoubtedly be a wonderful thing. Even if I fail to keep my promise, the Naval Academy will suffer no loss." Seeing that Director Birkenhagen had been moved, Oscar hurriedly continued.
Director Birkenhagen nodded. Though he believed the chances of Oscar fulfilling his promise were very slim, if a miracle truly happened, it would bring enormous benefits to the German Navy. He too hoped for a miracle. Even if Oscar was merely bragging, it would only mean that Oscar had willingly fallen into depravity; it would have no other effect on the Naval Academy.
"Very well, Your Highness. I accept your terms. However, within two years, you must show me that you have a chance of fulfilling your promise. Otherwise, you must return obediently to the Naval Academy and spend the remaining two years completing all your courses," Director Birkenhagen said. That way, even if Oscar truly was boasting, there would still be room to make amends.
"Very well, Your Excellency." Oscar nodded. It had truly not been easy to make Director Birkenhagen agree and open a back door for him. Oscar was ecstatic inside; he now had enough time to put his plan into action.
Afterward, Oscar and Karl bade Director Birkenhagen farewell and left the Naval Academy.
Standing by the office window and watching the two depart, Director Birkenhagen could not help muttering, "This prince is truly a strange man. Is he a genius, or a fool? If he can really donate a battleship to the German Navy within four years, then I will certainly be glad for the decision I made today."
However, Director Birkenhagen soon reported everything that had happened to Wilhelm II by telegram. He also informed Wilhelm II of how he had handled the matter, while requesting forgiveness for acting on his own authority.
In his heart, he still hoped that Oscar could fulfill his promise. After all, it would bring enormous benefits to the German Navy and even to all of Germany.
"Your Highness, do you truly intend to donate a battleship to the Navy within four years?" As soon as they left the Naval Academy, Karl immediately asked. As someone close to Oscar, he knew exactly how much property Oscar possessed. Although Oscar's personal wealth was undoubtedly a vast sum, it was still far, far short of what was needed to build a battleship. Nor did he think it wise for Oscar to exhaust all his wealth merely for four years of freedom.
"Don't worry, Karl. I know what I'm doing. Although my current financial resources are nowhere near enough to build a battleship, I believe they soon will be. From now on, we need to work hard and make money. Otherwise, I do not want to break my word." Oscar did not feel much pressure.
However, if Oscar ultimately failed to fulfill his promise, Director Birkenhagen would certainly be deeply displeased. He might even offend the entire Navy because of it. After all, would that not be making fools of the Navy?
As for Wilhelm II, he would probably be disappointed in him beyond all measure. In a fit of rage, he might even drive him out of the Hohenzollern family.
While Oscar and Karl were still taking the train back to Potsdam, Wilhelm II had already received Director Birkenhagen's telegram.
After reading it, Wilhelm II's brows knitted tightly together. He personally detested those who knew only how to make grand boasts but could not work diligently. Without question, he had already placed Oscar in that category.
"Hmph! Oskar is becoming more and more outrageous. Does he really think he is some business genius and everyone else is a fool? If money were truly so easy to earn, would not all the people of the country be doing business?" Wilhelm II said angrily.
"Your Majesty, perhaps His Highness merely wishes to give it a try. Director Birkenhagen's handling of the matter is very good. Even if His Highness cannot fulfill his promise, he will have to obediently return to the Naval Academy in two years. And if His Highness succeeds, it will be a great blessing for the Navy and the entire Empire." Wilhelm II's steward, Essen von Jonerath, said from the side.
Wilhelm II did not discriminate against merchants. However, he still hoped that all his sons would join the military. It was as though only soldiers could be considered true talents.
"Very well, then. I shall see what tricks that little fellow can stir up over these next few years. If the time comes and he cannot fulfill his promise, then he will no longer bear the title of Prince. He will also be struck from the Hohenzollern family and will no longer receive any benefits." Wilhelm II said coldly.
Clearly, Wilhelm II was extremely disappointed in Oscar. He believed that Oscar had gone through all this trouble merely because he did not want to study at the Naval Academy and only wanted to play around. Such a person was utterly unworthy of being a Prince of the German Empire.
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